How to Take Care of Your New Mattress

After one too many restless nights tossing, turning and holding your aching back in the morning, you finally decided to get a new mattress. An exciting first step! It took a lot of research and laying on so many mattresses you lost count—but you brought the dream home along with your foundation.

Now what?

It’s time for proper care, and to make sure your investment lasts the 7-10 years it’s supposed to. You can ensure the best care with proper maintenance and cleaning.

Here are some tips for how you can care for your mattress and prevent any damage not covered by your warranty:

All About That Base

First and foremost, without the right foundation or base for your mattress, not only can this void your warranty, but it can also cause lasting issues to the integrity of your mattress. If you’re unsure, review the proper installation thoroughly with the staff so you can sleep easy knowing your mattress is set up to last.

A faulty base can create unnecessary sagging or dipping, which is undesirable for long lasting support. This is your back we’re talking about—and the base for a mattress is just as important as the foundation of a home. Not having a proper base can and will cause problems later!

Air it Out

Once your new mattress finds its new home, you may notice an odor from the manufacturing center or factory where it came from. Leave both your mattress and foundation bare in a well ventilated room for a day or two, and this should subside. Then, you’ll be able to enjoy its fresh “newness”—sans the weird smell.

Use a Mattress Cover

Much like we have insurance on our cars, consider a mattress protector that extra barrier of protection between your mattress and everyday life. This includes protection against spills, stains, sweat, allergens and even pet dander that can get trapped inside a mattress and be a breeding ground for bacteria.

Clean Regularly

While it may not seem intuitive to clean your mattress regularly, think of it as upkeep similar to your bed sheets. Use the handheld attachment on your vacuum to suck up any built up dust that may have accumulated while your bed sheets were last in the wash.

Tip: As a general rule of thumb, you should wash sheets every 1-2 weeks (every week if you sweat a lot at night). Use hot water to disinfect, and don’t do a large load to ensure the detergent thoroughly cleans.

Should you spill anything on the mattress, follow the manufacturer directions on your tag or ask the personnel you bought the mattress from. Nowadays, mattresses are made of a variety of different foams and materials, so you want to be sure you’re following the proper instructions so you don’t oversaturate or damage the foam layers.

Generally, for spills, spot cleaning with a small amount of soap and warm water while dabbing the area is a safe way to go—just let the area air out and dry completely before covering with your protector and sheets again. For any undesirable odors, sprinkle the area with baking soda, wait 10-20 minutes and then vacuum it up. You’ll have a cleaner and fresher night’s sleep instantly!

Pivot, Pivot, ROTATE! (Maybe)

Many sources say to rotate and flip your mattress (both over and end-to-end) for evenly distributed wear and tear, but this can vary on newer mattresses. For the first few months after your purchase, rotate it end-to-end every couple of weeks, and then do it every season change.

Rotating is useful because when we get dressed or put shoes on, that repetitive motion can wear down a specific area quickly. Distributing the spot you sleep and sit on can help keep your mattress extra comfortable for longer.

Also, a word to the wise: flip your foundation occasionally, too! You want to distribute the weight so there’s no dipping or sagging across both your mattress and box spring. Before doing anything, though, take a look at your warranty or speak with an expert.

Transport With Care

When moving between rooms or a new house, ensure your mattress is properly supported at all times. Bending or squeezing your mattress through a small doorway can void your warranty and compromise the support and foam layers.

Tip: Don’t use the straps on the side of the mattress to transport; these are only for general shifting purposes once on your foundation!

While transporting, most professional movers have protective bags that seal and keep out extra dirt or debris from getting caught on your mattress.

Don’t Jump on—or Into—Bed

We’re all excited to get into bed every night (well, most of us are)—but jumping on your mattress can damage any coils or materials that are carefully manufactured in the mattress. It’s meant to support your back, not spring back from gravity-induced jumping and horseplay.

Let the little ones jump elsewhere, since you want your mattress to last as long as possible. This includes pets, too! Save the bouncing for the trampoline in the backyard, or for a fun family outing.

Only the Best Sleep for you

Giving your mattress and foundation the necessary TLC and you’ll be rewarded with long-lasting and restful sleep for many years to come. Not only is sleep important (we spend about one-third of our lives asleep, after all), but we understand that a mattress is a huge investment. We hope these tips will help you get the most out of it!

Do you have any other tips with us to share on mattress upkeep? Feel free to let us know in the comments, or use the hashtag #MyAshleyHome to show off your perfect bedroom and mattress with us.